David Albers/Staff
- Naples resident Loremise Timouche, center, eats lunch with two of her children, Eddy Maxius, left, and Jean Ronal Macius, right, in her home on Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Naples. Timouche, 59, is battling Stage 3 breast cancer and has found financial assistance from the Cancer Alliance of Naples.

A series of surveys Susan G. Komen conducted in Florida last year not only supported that statement, but found minority and poorer women are dying from the disease at a higher rate.

Women in Immokalee, East Naples and Naples said, in the survey, they're not seeking treatment or preventive care either because they lack insurance or time. For others, the reason was overbearing cultural stigmas or financial stress.

Armed with the information, Komen made reaching those women one of its goals for the 2012-2013 grant year.

Now, The Cancer Alliance of Naples, is putting their $41,000 grant toward telling those women, "there is help."

Loremise Timouche, a single mother of five, isn't the first woman affected by breast cancer and struggling to make ends meet.

But the 59-year-old River Park resident living in Section 8 housing is one of first recipients of financial support from CAN's new program targeting women in her socioeconomic position.

Timouche's son, Eddy Maxius, moved his real estate career from West Palm Beach to Naples so he could care for his mother. To him, the new program is more than financial support.

"When people are sick, they lose hope," Maxius, 32, said. "At least now they have some hope, know there's people out there to help them, to help them survive."

Timouche, who moved to Naples from Haiti in 1993, receives treatment under the care of Dr. Andy Lipman at Florida Cancer Specialists. Lipman said the incidence of breast cancer is higher in Caucasian women but the death rate from breast cancer is higher in African-American women. Including minority and poorer women, in Collier County 30 women died from breast cancer, and in Lee County there were 66 cases, according to the Komen survey.

"That's a reason why we need to work extra hard to counter those disparities in our community," he said. " And ensure that patients are treated with a standard set of treatments that are appropriate for the disease regardless of insurance status."

He added that Florida Cancer Specialists have their own financial counselors who are patient advocates and tirelessly seek resources, both financial and nonfinancial, for patients to lesson the burden of the disease.

Diagnosed with Stage I Breast Cancer in 2009, Timouche refused chemotherapy and radiation therapy hoping a lumpectomy, removal of a cancerous lump in the breast, would suffice.

Eight months later, the cancer returned. She was forced to accept reality — chemotherapy, radiation and a mastectomy, removal of the breast.

As treatment became more arduous and her cancer grew to Stage 3, maintaining her job at Publix, which provides her insurance, became impossible. A cultural stigma prevented her from asking for help.

"I was afraid," said Timouche in Creole. "At first I feel ashamed, but they were nice they talked to me. They listened to me and they make me happy."

Marianne St. John, executive director of CAN, said the organization, through Komen, has been covering Timouche's car insurance, monthly health insurance costs since the middle of March. Timouche also receives gas cards, and grocery cards from them.

As Timouche fights for her life, she smiles knowing she can return to Publix, where she's worked for 15 years. Although it was recommended she work only four hours a week, she opted for eight.